Disposable douche syringe and bag



Aug. 18, 1964 A. ELLIS DISPOSABLE noucm: SYRINGE AND BAG Filed Aug. 11,1961 INVENTOR. ALBERT L. ELLJS I BY Vlad/W A'T TOEN EYS United StatesPatent O 3,144,866 DISPOSABLE DOUCHE SYRINGE AND BAG Albert L. Ellis,Pittsburg, Califi, assignor to Briggs, Castling & Kelly, San Francisco,Calif., a firm Filed Aug. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 130,954 8 Claims. (Cl.128232) This invention relates to syringes, particularly those employedin matters of feminine hygiene, and generally termed douches or douchebags. In the modern world, feminine hygiene has received attention atrapidly increasing rate, and this has been complicated by the mobilityof the population, with travel continually on the increase. In thematter of travel, it is somewhat inconvenient, and often embarrassing toinclude the usual, cumbersome, domestic syringe in luggage, and thisgives rise to the problem of providing an inexpensive, dispos ablesyringe, capable of compacting for storage in a small space. In additionto the problem mentioned, the inherent nature of certain modes ofemployment of a syringe render a repeated use thereof somewhatundesirable, and therefore, even in the home, a disposable type syringeis preferable. Furthermore, the conventional douche bag is usually keptout of sight when not in use, and since handling thus becomes furtive,the use of the device is less facile than could be desired.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide adisposable, single-use syringe. Another object is to provide such asyringe which is capable of a high degree of compacting, for storage ina minimum of space. Objects related to the foregoing include theprovision of a syringe which, while simple in structure, easy tomanufaoture, and low in cost, is nevertheless rugged, easy to assemble,and reliable in operation. It is also a particular object to provide acomposite syringe, which is readily chargeable with fluid, but whichautomatically locks upon assembly to positively prevent re-use.

These and other objects, which will be apparent, are attained by thepresent invention, a preferred form of which is described in thefollowing specification, as illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the syringe, as assembled,

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to FIGURE 1, showing the bag and nozzleseparated,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3, and

FIGURE 5 is a View similar to FIGURE 4, with the nozzle removed.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, there is shown afluid-holding bag or reservoir, 10, preferably of polyethylene plastic,in thin, sheet form, formed from a pair of fiat, generally rectangular,wall sections 12, 14 which may be produced from a single sheet, foldedin the middle to produce one edge 16 of the bag, and being secured alongthe other three sides of the bag, as by heatsealing or cementing, inmarginal portions, 18, 20, 22. The resulting bag is of minimum weightand volume, and due to the flexibility of the material, may be furthercompacted by folding. Obviously, the bag may be made in variousgeometric forms other than the one shown, and other materials may beemployed.

The bag wall 12 has a central, circular opening 24 for reception of afiller plug or nipple 26, which also serves to mount a delivery nozzle28. Both of these parts are also made from polyethylene. For mounting inthe bag opening, plug 26 has an annular channel near one end, providinga reduced neck 30, of about the same diameter as bag opening 24.Outwardly of neck 30, plug 26 has an enlarged, end flange 32, which isforced through opening 24, and brought into engagement with the innersurface of the bag, around the periphery of opening 24.

For attachment of the nozzle 28, the plug 26 is provided with a helicalgroove 34, adapted to mate with threads in the nozzle. In the formshown, the pitch of groove 34 is such that the ridge, or thread 36 onthe plug is relatively wide in comparison to the width of the groove. Atthe outer end of the plug the first convolution of thread 36 is providedwith oblique, Wedge-shaped peripheral notches 38, equi-angularly spacedabout the axis of the plug, the notches being inclined in the directionof advance along the thread, toward the bag. As seen in FIG- URE 5, inthe absence of the nozzle the short ratchet-like edges at the outer endsof the slots 38 extend, in their normal, unstressed state, beyond theperiphery of thread 36, in tips or barbs 40, which are forced inwardlyto the periphery of the plug when the nozzle is mounted thereon, whichtend to bite into the nozzle on reverse turning thereof, so as to resistwithdrawal of the nozzle.

The nozzle 28 is tubular throughout, and has an ovate, outer head 42,and a hood-shaped inner cap 44. Interiorly of the nozzle 28, the axialpassage has an outer, restricted passage 46 within head 42, openingthrough the end thereof, a somewhat larger intermediate portion 48between the head and cap, a still larger passage 50 within the shoulderportion 52 of the cap, and a terminal counterbore 54 within the mainbody of the cap, the counterbore being threaded to mate with thethreaded plug 36. When the nozzle is screwed onto plug 36, the outeredge of cap 44 is brought into engagement with bag wall 12, aroundopening 24, this portion of the bag being thus secured in fluid-sealingrelation between the cap end and the flange 32 of the plug, and for thispurpose the end of the cap is preferably rounded, as at 56.

From the foregoing it will be evident that there has been provided asyringe which is simple, and moderate of dimension, and which, furtheris capable of compacting, for storage. At the same time, the device iseasily filled, with the plug stabilizing the bag opening, and,therefore, acting as a funnel. The parts are easily assembled, and thefunctions of the assembled device are easily accomplished by evacuatingthe contents of the bag by squeezing with the hand. Once used, thedevice will be thrown away, since the ratchet effect of the notches inthe plug defeat efforts to remove the nozzle. It is, of course, possibleto employ a device Without the locking feature, in case re-use should,for any reason be desirable.

As packed for the market, the two parts will be separate, and since thebag is foldable, the parts may be placed in a relatively smallcontainer, which can be easily carried in a pocket or purse. For certainintended uses, suitable chemicals may be supplied with the bag, forultimate solution in the fluid when the bag is filled. The chemical inpill or powder form, may be placed within the bag at the time ofpackaging, and a strip of gummed tape or paper placed over the openingin the plug.

Generally speaking, whereas a certain preferred embodiment has beenshown and described, various modifications will become apparent, in thelight of the disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore, bedeemed as limited except insofar as shall appear from the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A disposable syringe comprising a flat thin-walled generallyrectangular, double-faced, bag of plastic material having a folded edgeon one side, and attached end edges on the other three sides, one faceof said bag having a central, circular opening, a plug having an annularchannel in its periphery, receiving the rim of said opening, a flange onsaid plug engaging the inner surface of said bag Patented Aug. 18, 1964adjacent said opening, said plug having a helical, thread groove and athread relatively wide in comparison to said groove, the firstconvolution of said thread, at the outer end of said plug, having aseries of oblique, wedge-shaped slots opening in the periphery of saidplug, and having sharp corners extending outwardly of said periphery,and a nozzle having an end cap portion with an internal thread matingwith said groove in said plug, an ovate head on said nozzle on the endopposite said cap, said nozzle having a central passage throughout, witha portion of restricted bore within said head.

2. A disposable syringe comprising a fiat thin-Walled double-faced, bagof plastic material having a folded edge on one side, and attached endedges on the other three sides, one face of said bag having a central,circular opening, a plug having an annular channel in its periphery,receiving the rim of said opening, a flange on said plug engaging theinner surface of said bag adjacent said opening, said plug having ahelical, thread groove, and a thread relatively wide in comparison tosaid groove, the first convolution of said thread, at the outer end ofsaid plug having a series of oblique, wedge-shaped slots opening in theperiphery of said plug, and having sharp corners extending outwardly ofsaid periphery, and a nozzle having an end cap portion with an internalthread mating with said groove in said plug, an ovate head on saidnozzle on the end opposite said cap, said nozzle having a centralpassage throughout, with a portion of restricted bore within said head.

3. A disposable syringe comprising a pair of sheets of plastic material,joined on a peripheral line to provide a fiat bag, one face of said baghaving a central, circular opening, a plug having an annular channel inits periphery, receiving the rim of said opening, a flange on said plugengaging the inner surface of said bag adjacent said opening, said plughaving a helical, thread groove, and a thread relatively wide incamparison to said groove, the first convolution of said thread, at theouter end of said plug, having a series of oblique, wedge-shaped slotsopening in the periphery of said plug, and having sharp cornersextending outwardly of said periphery, and a nozzle having an end capportion with an internal thread mating with said groove in said plug, anovate head on said nozzle on the end opposite said cap, said nozzlehaving a central passage throughout, with a portion of restricted borewithin said head.

4. A disposable syringe comprising a pair of sheets of plastic material,joined on a peripheral line to provide a fiat bag, one face of said baghaving an opening, a plug having an annular channel in its periphery,receiving the rim of said opening, said plug having a helical, threadgroove, and a thread relatively wide in comparison to said groove, thefirst convolution of said thread, at the outer end of said plug having aseries of oblique, wedgeshaped slots opening in the periphery of saidplug, and having sharp corners extending outwardly of said periphery,and a nozzle having an end cap portion with an internal thread matingwith said groove in said plug, an ovate head on said nozzle on the endopposite said cap, said nozzle having a central passage throughout, witha portion of restricted bore within said head.

5. A disposable syringe comprising a pair of sheets of plastic material,joined on a peripheral line to provide a flat bag, one face of said baghaving an opening, a plug having an annular channel in its periphery,receiving the rim of said opening, said plug having a helical, threadgroove, a series of oblique, wedge-shaped slots opening in itsperiphery, and having sharp corners extending outwardly of saidperiphery, and a nozzle having an end cap portion with an internalthread mating with said groove in said plug, an ovate head on saidnozzle on the end opposite said cap, and said nozzle having a centralpassage throughout, with a portion of restricted bore within said head.

6. A disposable syringe comprising a pair of sheets of plastic material,joined on a peripheral line to provide a fiat bag, one face of said baghaving an opening, a plug having an annular channel in its periphery,receiving the rim of said opening, said plug having a helical, threadgroove, and a series of integral, wedges extending beyond its periphery,and arranged, in their normal, unstressed state, oblique to radialplanes through the plug axis and a tubular nozzle having a headed, outerend, and a cap at the inner end, with an internal thread mating withsaid groove.

7. A disposable syringe comprising a flexible bag, a threaded nipplesecured to said bag and communicating with the interior thereof, saidnipple having a helical thread groove, and obliquely-slanted barbsextending beyond its periphery, and arranged, in their normal,unstressed state, oblique to radial planes through the nipple axis. anda tubular nozzle having internal threads at one end, mating with saidgroove.

8. A disposable syringe comprising a pair of sheets of plastic material,joined on a peripheral line to provide a flat bag, a threaded nipplesecured to said bag and communicating with the interior thereof, saidnipple having a helical thread groove, and obliquely-slanted barbsextending beyond its periphery, and arranged, in their normal,unstressed state, oblique to radial planes through the nipple axis and atubular nozzle having internal threads at one end, mating with saidgroove.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS757,654 Guild Apr. 19, 1904 2,653,735 Brinkman Sept. 29, 1953 2,850,015Baxter Sept. 2, 1958 2,886,089 Schlage May 12, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS109,231 Austria Apr. 10, 1928 190,846 Switzerland July 16, 1937 615,234Canada Feb. 28, 1961

7. A DISPOSABLE SYRINGE COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE BAG, A THREADED NIPPLESECURED TO SAID BAG AND COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR THEREOF, SAIDNIPPLE HAVING A HELICAL THREAD GROOVE, AND OBLIQUELY-SLANTED BARBSEXTENDING BEYOND ITS PERIPHERY, AND ARRANGED, IN THEIR NORMAL,UNSTRESSED STATE, OBLIQUE TO RADIAL PLANES THROUGH THE NIPPLE AXIS, ANDA TUBULAR NOZZLE HAVING INTERNAL THREADS AT ONE END, MATING WITH SAIDGROOVE.